PPI Special Report: Early Earnings Strong for 2011-12 Limited Basketball (Gallery)

To say the Panini America NBA Product Development team has been busy is an understatement. NBA Brand Managers David Porter and Keith Hower have put together a downright stellar run of NBA releases through the first half of 2012.

Earlier this year, we brought you a PPI Special Report on 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball and the enormous dollars its cards were commanding. Then, we highlighted the ridiculousness of the bang-for-your-buck 2011-12 Hoops Basketball and its bullish returns on investment. Now, we turn our collective attention to 2011-12 Limited Basketball — yet another product that has collectors applauding lofty returns on key cards.

Highlighted by design wizardry like the vibrant team-color, foil-accented cards and the artful new Trophy Case insert — plus jumbo prime jersey swatches and on-card autographs — 2011-12 Limited Basketball boasts some of the most dazzling designs and content of the season. Recently, an on-card autograph of the Kobe Bryant Limited Team Trademarks card (#’d 3/5) sold for $599. Retired Cavaliers legend Mark Price’s Limited Retired Numbers Prime Material Signatures card (#’d 9/15) delivered a sell of $375.67. And not surprisingly, Clippers sensation Blake Griffin’s Limited Material Monikers Prime Auto 1/1 closed at $355.99.

And while it’s hard to determine exactly what is driving the price of some of these Panini America trading cards, there’s no shortage of evidence that collectors clamor for the opportunity to either buy or sell some of their favorite NBA superstars. We have put together another stunning look at some of the top-selling cards thus far from 2011-12 Limited Basketball. We hope you enjoy, and as always, we look forward to your comments below.